Case Study: Valley Road Primary School

We spoke to Caroline from Valley Road Primary School about her experience of taking pupils to Calshot.

We've been coming to Calshot for around 20 years, which tells you how much we value the experience! Valley Road is in Henley-on-Thames. It’s a very nice area, but there can be hidden poverty. We have pockets of children who don't have the same advantages as others. Going to Calshot is so important because it gives those children an opportunity to experience things they otherwise wouldn’t.

Time is precious at the end of KS2 and we really want to make best use of it. At Calshot, you discover new little things about the young people who you’ve known for seven years, and it allows us to celebrate that before they leave us.

We're really passionate about field studies. It’s very difficult in a primary classroom to give young people these scientific experiences, like seeing coastal erosion and examining crab species, so the activities at Calshot help enrich the curriculum and provide the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice. For schools where children aren't able to get out and about, being able to put into practice their learning outside is invaluable. At the end of the day, we want the children to see where their learning fits into everything else as well.

The residential trip also allows children to start seeing qualities in themselves they didn't realise were there before. It inspires some of the children to get into STEM. Whenever they have a session about ecology and oceans, they all come back adamant that sharks are the best thing on the planet. The staff are so passionate about it, and the kids do pick up on that and remember it.

All of them feel nervous at the beginning of the week. The first night is always a bit tricky, but they do quite quickly meld into that little community, and their support bubbles within their dorms. By the end of the week, they’ve made huge advances in their independence.

Parents tell me that they notice their children come back just that little bit more grown up. The trip helps to develop their ability to look after themselves, as well as improving resilience and teamwork.

We had a child this year who was a terrible sleeper. Coming back from Calshot, he said to his mum, ‘I've learned I don't need to get up every night.’

Little things like that, those are the hidden successes.

Generally, parents aren't worried because the school has been going to Calshot for so long. We're nearly at the point where we're getting some parents who went as children and now have children that visit Calshot with us. One of our support staff who came this year went to Calshot when she was a child.

We also do a one-night trip in Year 4. It gives the children a little bit of experience and offers parents a softer introduction to their children going away.

I'd say to schools, if they have nervous parents, to meet with them first. Be open, be honest, tell them how you're going to help their young person get through it. Getting parents to understand what the purpose of the trip is and establishing those relationships with Calshot really helped us.

If Caroline and her pupils’ story has inspired you to get involved, then get in touch! We’ve got a wide selection of educational and adventure activities that will inspire and engage your students, no matter their interests or abilities. So, fill in our enquiry form,  and we’ll be in contact shortly to discuss booking a visit to Hampshire Outdoor Centres for your school.